Student Journeys: Best Practices for the TargetX Platform Retention & Student Success Track

1. #TargetXSummit
Student Journeys: Best Practices for
TargetX Products
Meagan Wood & Shalese Cordon, TargetX

3. #TargetXSummit
Agenda
● Student Journeys
Definitions, Methodology, & Resources
● Practical Tactics for TargetX Products
Some Things to Start Doing Today
Wisdom from a TargetX Client
● Student Journeys & Product Development
Collecting Stories & Shaping the Future

4. #TargetXSummit
Student Journeys
Definitions, Methodology, & Resources

5. What do we mean by “student journeys”?
A method of understanding
prospective and current students
in order to best serve them
throughout their education by
identifying the following
components:

6. #TargetXSummit
Student Journey Components
Educational
Goals
Groups Stage or Phase
Questions,
Values, Priorities
Activities &
To-Dos
Relationships

7. #TargetXSummit
Maria Lopez, 19
University of La Verne, CA
Demographics
Latina, Southern California
Other Profile Details
First Generation
Strong academics
One of 6 siblings
Motivations
Wants to graduate in four years
Wants to get a good job (field is not yet determined)
Challenges
High financial need
Does not want to accumulate student debt (will work and
get scholarship funding)
Mike Hamilton, 20
Diablo Valley Community College, CA
Demographics
White, SF East Bay
Other Profile Details
Average academics
Middle-class family
Athlete
Motivations
Wants to transfer to UC Berkeley (general ed at
community college is cheaper)
Wants to pursue career in medicine or sciences
Challenges
High financial need
Acquiring credits that will transfer
Applying to real dream school while at community college
Student Journeys - Starting with Stories

8. ● Traditional Four Year Student
● Traditional Graduate Student
● Community College Intending to
Transfer
● Two-Year Degree Students
● Personal Enrichment Learner
● Transitional College Students
● Pathways Programs
What a student wants
to accomplish at your
school
A student has one
primary goal at a time
Educational Goals Student Journeys
Components

9. Community College
Intent to Transfer
Traditional Four
Year
Educational Goals Student Journeys
Components

10. Groups Student Journeys
Components
● Online-Only
● Military - Veterans or Active Duty
● International Students
● Student Athletes
● First Generation Students
● Early Action/Decision
● High Financial Need
● English Language Learners
● Underrepresented Racial Minorities
Segments of students
based on similar needs,
priorities,
characteristics, etc.
A student can be in
multiple groups at the
same time

11. Groups Student Journeys
Components
First generation
High financial need
Undeclared major
Latina
Campus employment
Top scholar
Athlete
High financial need
Pre-Med
Academic Support

12. #TargetXSummit
Student Journeys: WHO?

13. #TargetXSummit
Student Journeys: WHO?

14. Stage or Phase Student Journeys
Components
● Student Life Cycle - has distinct phases that shape student
experience
● Larger phases can be broken down into smaller segments
● Some portions of the life cycle may be more pertinent to
your work than others

15. Stage or Phase Student Journeys
Components
Whole Student Life Cycle
Prospect Admitted Enrolled Graduated
Prospective Students
Prospect Inquiry App Start App Complete Admitted Deposited
Current Students
Admitted Deposited Orientation First 4 Weeks Returning Graduated

16. Questions, Values, Priorities Student Journeys
Components
The questions,
priorities, and values a
student holds are
shaped by the journey
components covered
so far:
● Goal
● Groups
● Stage/Phase
Get BA in 4 years
No loans!
Get a good job
Become a doctor
Get into UC Berkeley

17. Activities & To-Dos Student Journeys
Components
These are the things
a student is actually
doing while they’re
in a particular stage
or phase
May just have small
variances from
journey to journey
Current Students
Orientation
Registering for courses
Meeting peers
Finalizing financial aid
Learning about campus
policies
Exploring campus culture
Joining student groups
Getting settled in housing

18. Relationships Student Journeys
Components
The people who help shape
students’ experience
Personal Relationships:
Parents, Children, Religious
Groups
Affiliated with School:
Admissions Counselors,
Advisors, Coaches, RAs
Parents
Siblings
Employer
Berkeley’s admissions
team
Coach

19. #TargetXSummit
Student Journey Components
Educational
Goals
Groups Stage or Phase
Questions,
Values, Priorities
Activities &
To-Dos
Relationships

20. #TargetXSummit
Student Journeys:
Putting It All Together
Start with
identifying the
educational goal
and group the
matrix is for

21. #TargetXSummit
Student Journeys:
Putting It All Together
Stage or Phase
on one axis

22. #TargetXSummit
Student Journeys:
Putting It All Together
Other components
on other axis

23. #TargetXSummit
Student Journeys:
Putting It All Together

24. Student Journeys: Resources
● Blog Post: www.targetx.com/studentjourneys
● Sample Worksheets
● Practical Tactics

25. #TargetXSummit
Practical Tactics for TargetX Products
What can you start doing today?
Wisdom from a TargetX Client

26. Practical Tactics for TargetX Products

27. Practical Tactics for TargetX Products

28. Practical Tactics for TargetX Products

30. #TargetXSummit
Student Journeys &
Product Development
Collecting Stories & Shaping the Future

31. Collecting Stories & Shaping the Future
● Fill out the Student Journey
Stories form to be entered to win
a pair of TargetX socks!
https://forms.gle/qX6L8nutho5GK
u2F9
● Come by the Product Lab -
check out what’s coming
● Keep in touch!

32. Thank You!
Student Journeys Stories
meagan.wood@targetx.com
shalese.cordon@targetx.com

34. Student Journey Matrix
Time Period Pre-Application Application Admitted, Not Yet Enrolled Enrolled Graduation and Beyond
Student's Activities
Student's Values &
Big Questions
Student's Biggest
Priority
Determine where to apply for college Complete applications for top choices
of colleges
Achieve admission to best-fit college Have a holistically great experience in
college, graduate with a bachelors
degree
Get a job that's meaningful and
valuable
Relationships -
Student's Side
Relationships -
School
Staff/Departments